Widden Stud’s Trapeze Artist has his first Group I winner and it only seems fitting that the Widden Stud bred and sold colt Griff would achieve the feat scoring an exciting win in the $3million Group I MRC Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on Saturday.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Griff stamped his credentials winning both the Group II MVRC Stutt Stakes (1600m) and Listed VRC Exford Plate (1400m) at his previous two starts and made it a winning hat-trick.
Blessed with great tactical speed, Griff was ridden forward by Ben Melham and led for home. He kept finding all the way to the line to win by nearly two lengths over Veight and the previously undefeated Steparty with Group I winning colts King Colorado and Militarize in fourth and fifth. A little wayward at the finish, Griff had the race well and truly in his keeping at that point so no protest was lodged.
“He began exceptionally well and the more I looked at the race the more I thought initially there was no speed and in group one races that kind of plays on people,” said Ben Melham.
“Throughout the day, things can change and when he began in the manner that he did, he rolled across and got across so easily.
“He just lobbed along in a beautiful rhythm. I started to quicken up from the 500-600 (metre mark) and he spotted something on the inside of the track and nearly threw the race away. He did a right-turn on me.
“Very good, courageous effort by the horse and a great job by the stable. They kept him up a while and kept him winning. Here he is now a Caulfield Guineas winner.”
Griff was an $80,000 purchase from the Widden Stud draft at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale and runs for Sean Griffiths. He has the overall record of four wins from eight starts with prizemoney topping $2.1million.
“It's a great thrill and it's great to win a race for Sean Griffiths. He's very, very new to game, this is his first year buying horses and he's put a lot faith in us,” said David Eustace.
"It's not easy to get a nice horse and to get a Guineas winner. They're rare to come by and for him to own the horse 100 per cent, it's fair enough again.
"He's got a bright future the horse. He's still furnishing and Sean is going to think this is easy now, winning a Guineas in his first year.”
Bred by Widden Stud in partnership, Griff is the second winner from as many foals for the Group III placed Sebring mare Chateau Griffo, who has changed hands several times, the most recently earlier this year when selling for $75,000 on Inglis Digital in February. She has a yearling colt by North Pacific and has foaled this spring producing a colt by I Am Immortal.
Griff is the first stakes-winner and first Group I winner for Snitzel’s champion son Trapeze Artist, who stands at a fee of $55,000 this spring.
